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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

4x NBA champion LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the Indiana Pacers at home last night. It was the King’s third game since his return to action after almost a month’s hiatus due to an injury. However, James and Co suffered a humiliating defeat in a game that went down to the wire. Like always, ‘Trade LeBron’ cries were trending on social media.

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However, LeBron James gave an eight-word response to the trade cries in the post-game press conference.

LeBron James makes a straightforward proposal to fix the Lakers’ woes

According to the four-time Finals MVP, one of the biggest reasons behind the meltdown of the Los Angeles Lakers last night was his contributions in the game’s final minutes. The four-time NBA champion assumed responsibility for the loss after head coach Darvin Ham had done the same. James summarized the underwhelming loss, “Everything has to go wrong in order for you to lose a game like that, and everything went wrong.” After his comments on the team’s struggles, James shouted out the young guard Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana pacers. However, if one pays close attention to the King’s words, one can find the potential saving grace of the Lakers’ season.

Read More – “This One Hurts”: Anthony Davis, LeBron James, and NBA World in Utter Dismay Over “Heartbreaker” at the Buzzer vs Haliburton’s Pacers

James began his monologue on the loss last night with the statement, “I just got to finish the game.” Despite LeBron playing the entire fourth quarter, the Lakers came up short in the final minutes of the game. With only four points on the box score in the fourth quarter, the 4x NBA champion made an underwhelming contribution to the Lakers’ cause. However, in line with James’s confession, if he had ‘finished’ the game like his usual self by taking the matter into his own hands, the Lakers may have come out on top last night. 

Regardless, the King’s admission about his ‘clutch’ performance may be a potential solution for the Lakers’ woes. If James starts to ‘finish’ games by coming in clutch in the final minutes, the Lakers might witness a rise through the ranks.

After giving up a 17-point lead, the Lakers lost to the Indiana Pacers in a shocking turn of events. Rookie guard Andrew Nembhard banked a buzzer-beater which secured the win for the Pacers with a final score of 116-115. Moreover, James had a mediocre performance last night. Consequently, like always, ‘Trade LeBron’ cries started trending on social media after the game.

Here are some of the fan reactions on Twitter:

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Is the King’s solution valid?

LBJ’s admission has substantial merit. It would not be asking much from the 18x All-Star to come up big in the final moments of a game. In fact, James has been one of the best ‘clutch’ performers in the league’s history. The King is the All-time leader in postseason buzzer-beaters with five. Moreover, James has an impressive 52% efficiency in crunch time in his illustrious career. If James can replicate the heroics of his past self, the Lakers will be at a definite advantage.

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Watch the Story – Lebron James best clutch moments of his playoff career

Do you think LeBron James is the most ‘clutch’ player of all time? Let us know in the comments below.